Jeff writes:
After reading this, I decided to perform a little spot-gazing of my own. As it turns out, my dog has spots not only on his coat but on his skin as well. Now I'm frightened because I don't know which spots to trust. Can you advise?
Prof. Oddfellow responds:
When spots form in layers, even the most innocuous of queries becomes unpredictable. But don't feel discouraged! Think of your dog as an artist's canvas with several layers of paint. Each layer is a chapter of an evolving story. If a heart-shaped mark on the skin (the sign of a homebody) is covered by a bone-shaped spot on the fur (the sign of contentment), that tells us that your dog finds his greatest comfort on his own turf. If the mark of a duck (symbolizing devotion) is covered by the mark of a fang (nervousness), your dog is stressed over his fidelity. Of course, a dog's spots are more than skin-deep; they go all the way to the bone. But the superficial layers offer plenty food for thought!